Nikon D3300 versus Sony A77 II

The Nikon D3300 and the Sony Alpha SLT-A77 II are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in January 2014 and May 2014. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixel. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Nikon D3300 vs Sony A77 II

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon D3300 and the Sony A77 II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. If you prefer, you can also use the toggle button to switch to a comparison in percentage terms (in this case, the camera on the left – the D3300 – represents the basis or 100 percent across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Sony A77 II is notably larger (22 percent) than the Nikon D3300. Moreover, the A77 II is substantially heavier (50 percent) than the D3300. It is noteworthy in this context that the A77 II is splash and dust-proof, while the D3300 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study the specifications of available lenses
in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left
comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Any camera purchase will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The D3300 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 58 percent) than the A77 II, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Nikon D3300 vs Sony A77 II

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor
(sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras
that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 24 megapixel.
This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the D3300 and the A77 II have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the A77 II is a somewhat more recent model (by 3 months) than the D3300, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the D3300 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

Feature comparison: Nikon D3300 vs Sony A77 II

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A77 II has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), while the D3300 has an optical one.
Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information
into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon D3300 and Sony A77 II along with similar information for a selection of comparators. If you need more detail on the specs, you can find comprehensive listings, for example, in the dpreview camera hub.

One feature that differentiates the A77 II and the D3300 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS).
The A77 II reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the D3300 has to rely on optical image stabilization
in OIS-equipped lenses to achieve the same effect.

The A77 II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony.
In contrast, the D3300 has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the D3300 was succeeded by the Nikon D3400.

Review summary: Nikon D3300 vs Sony A77 II

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon D3300 better than the Sony A77 II or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Nikon D3300:

Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.

Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.

More compact: Is smaller (124x98mm vs 143x104mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.

Less heavy: Is lighter (by 217g or 34 percent) and hence easier to carry around.

Longer lasting: Can take more shots (700 versus 480) on a single battery charge.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (58 percent cheaper at launch).

More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in January 2014).

Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha SLT-A77 II:

Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.

More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.

Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A77 II is the clear winner of the contest (12 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision.

D3300 07:12 A77 II

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D3300 or the A77 II handle or perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The detailed reviews can be accessed by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

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